Madeline's Big Adventures.. and her parents too.: Disney Half Marathon

Yesterday my running partner Brenda and I went to Anaheim for the Disney Half Marathon. I have no pictures to show you until after we finished the race. We hit traffic and got to our hotel late. Then had to walk 2 miles to find the expo. We hardly had time to get our bibs, shirts, not-so-goody-bags and look around. I did have time to buy a Halo visor (which I am sporting in the pics of the race). After that, we strolled quickly through Downtown Disney stopping only in the Lego and Disney stores to get our kids things.

By then we were hungry and Downtown Disney was packed! So, we headed back to the hotel and drove to our favorite running store RoadRunner Sports. We barely made it there before they closed! I ended up getting some running clothes. I think Brenda was withering away from starvation at that point (I guess she didn't realize how distracted I can get when I am shopping). So, we ate a yummy dinner at Mimi's Cafe before heading back to the hotel. Our wild night ended early when we were in our beds by 9pm.

The race started at 5:45 AM, so we had to be up at 4am in order to eat and get to the start on time. Everything went smoothly and we made it in time to find the potties and squeeze into Coral B. The first mile was slow goings! Actually I felt like the first three miles, through the parks, were slower than usual. I felt like our goal time was slipping away from us. The run through the parks was so awesome (aside from all the people dodging). There were so many characters out to take pictures with (Brenda wouldn't let me stop for any) and many workers there to sheer us on.

Finally at mile 4 we were out of the parks and onto the wide open streets. This was nice, but kinda boring. There wasn't much to look at. We felt great and were back to our under 9 min. pace. We ended up running until mile 6 before we walked enough to get a drink and eat some Chomps. But Brenda wouldn't let me walk long and before I knew it, we were off again! At this point we were about a minute over our time and I really didn't think a 2 hour finish was in our grasp, but I also can't to the math while I am running, so what did I know. Brenda was positive we could make it, but I wasn't so sure.

About boring mile 8 we decided to listen to music. I was still feeling great- except... My new little running skirt I bought the day before was riding a little on my legs and I knew I was going to have some issues later. At mile 9 we entered Angel's stadium- my favorite part. You enter the field the way the players run on the field to thousands of people in the stands cheering you on and an announcer staying your names over the speakers as well as a video of you running across home plate showing on the big screen. It was awesome! When am I ever going to get that chance again?? Well, I guess next year if I do this race again...

Coming out of the stadium we hit mile 10. I got a quick water walk and calculated that we were at 1hr 30 min. which would mean we would make it! I got excited at this point, but my body was not feeling it. This is as far as I have ever gone at this pace, and my body was reminding me that it was ready to stop. Those last three miles were difficult. I don't know how many times I check my watch or tried to refocus. We hoovered around 8:45-9:05 which was faster than I expected to go. By mile 11 my legs were killing me. At mile 12 we reentered the Disney back lot (not as exciting as being IN the park). Brenda was feeling great and I told her to go ahead of me. I was struggling, but I knew I just needed to keep this pace to make it. I do not know how I kept running, I just did. It was painful. My breathing was not good. MY unofficial time is 1 hour 58 minutes, I think my official time is 1:59. Brenda finished a minute before me. I made it! I still can't believe it!

To run a half under 2 hours has been an unattainable idea for so long, I just can't believe I did it. To me, that was only the FAST runners. It may have been ugly at the end, but today I felt like a fast runner! Not feeling too bad tonight (maybe the mile+ trek back to the hotel was good for me) except the "issue" I was going to have, well it is really painful! Lesson learned.

I hope that you can find some encouragement in this post. I was never a runner! I just started about 5 years ago and in that time I have gone from barely being about to run a quarter of a mile to running marathons. Also, this last year, I was able to shave over 10 minutes off my half marathon time. I didn't think any of this was ever possible! Anything is possible. I am so thankful for the ability to run (fast or slow, just to run). I am thankful for a wonderful husband who is encouraging and supportive, and can still run circles around me! I am thankful for friends who run with me and push me to be better!

Brenda is already planning our next MARATHON! ugh! She is an animal!

We got back to the hotel, got ready and headed home. I loved that I was back before Madeline and Aaron even made it home from church. I sure did miss them. It was hard to be at Disneyland and not have Madeline with me.